In April 1988, a
bloody hostage taking took place on Ouvéa. Four gendarmes were killed and
twenty-seven were held hostage in a cave by supporters of FLNKS. Twelve of the captured
gendarmes were released after a while, but six members of a French
anti-terrorist squad were also taken hostage. When negotiations to release
those taken hostage did not succeed, French security forces besieged the cave
and freed the hostages. Eighteen Kanaks and two gendarmes were left dead, and
in the aftermath, it was alleged that three Kanaks had been executed or left to
die after being
